Air cleaner



March 4, 1947.

J. B. sEBoK AIR CLEANER Filed Jan. 2, 1943 Ode b/i E. Saba/r.

1 This invention relates to improvements in a liq- Patented Mar. 4, 1947 Joseph B. S ebok, Detroit, Mich., assignor Houdaille-Hershey Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Michigan Application January 2, 1943, Serial No. 71,135

6 Claims.

uid bath air cleaner of a type connected to the intake of a mechanism requiring a supply of clean air, the invention being highly desirable for use in connection with an air compressor, although the invention might be used upon an lntemal combustion engine and other apparatus requiring an air supply for proper operation, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

An air cleaner used in connection with the intake of an air compressor, especially when that air compressor is mounted on a vehicle such as an automotive vehicle of the character of a large truck or bus, or on a railroad train, is subject to considerable vibration and jarring. It is im- 2 event the filter element becomes loosened from its mooring in the cleaner and is totally freed from all connections with other parts of the cleaner. Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a liquid bath air cleaner containing a filter element having substantially the same construction at both ends thereof, so that either end of the filter element may be engaged with an anchoring or supporting means, and the other end of the filter will prevent falling of the filter any more than a negligible degree into the liquid sump in the event the filter becomes loosened from its anchoring means, so that the efilcie'ncy of the cleaner in such event is impaired to only a perative, therefore, that if any of the interior pore tions of the air cleaner should become loosened from theirrespective moorings, that the supply serviced when necessary, which permits various adjustments and changes in the component parts of the cleaner as may be needed during servicing, which occupies a small space, and which is highly efiicient in operation.

With the foregoing in mind, it'is an important object of the instant invention toprovidea highly efiicient liquid bath air cleaner of extremely small size and compact form and which does not possess the disadvantages of air cleaners used heretofore in similar locations.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a liquid bath air cleaner wherein' the interior filter element may be completely reversed in its position without altering the operation of the cleaner.,

A further object of the invention is the provision of an air cleaner of the liquid bath type, containing a filter mass therein which may read ily be removed from the cleaner for servicing, without disturbing the connection of the cleaner with the apparatus being supplied with clean air.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a liquid bath air cleaner containing a filter element, and which element is so constructed as to be completely invertible and is easily securable in inverted position as in normal position.

It is also a feature of this invention to providenegligible amount,ifat all.

Also an object of the invention is the provision of a liquid bath air cleaner having an adjustable outlet connection by which the cleaner may be connected with an air intake element of various shapes or sizes andlvarious' distances from the cleaner.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a liquid bath air cleaner including a cas-' lng embodying separable sections, one of which sections is provided with novel and protected inlet means.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosure,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing} in which: i r

Figure l is a top plan view of an air cleaner embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the cleaner of Figure 1, taken substantially as indicated by the section line Ii-II of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 3 is a part side elevational, part vertical sectional view of the construction seen in- Figllres 1 and 2.

As shown on the drawings:

The illustrated'embodiment of the instant invention is an air cleaner substantially rectangular in cross section, with the inlet openings disposed along the longer sides of the casing. The casing includes separabl sections, an upper section generally indicated by numeral I, and a lower sec.- tion separable'therefrom and generally indicated by numeral 2. v

The upper casing section I includes a hollow cover portion 3 closed except for a bolt accommodating aperture 4 in the top central portion thereof. This cover portion 3 forms an interior chamber 5 for clean air prior to its exit from the cleaner. Below the chamber 5, the upper casing "section is stepped outwardly to form an interior socket as indicated at 8 to accommodate both a.

gasket and the upper portion of the filter element to be later described. Below the socket portion 5 the upper section is flared outwardly and downwardly as indicated atl to form a hood which covers the junction point between the lower and the upper casing sections, and also shieldthe inlet-opening. This hood not only protects the junction and the inlet openings from the entrance 1 of water, but also keeps out heavy dirt and debrisoutlet conduit 8 extending through the casing section wall and being flanged as indicated at 9 aeraeei easement behind a, pressed rib 22 on the upper casing section at the corner of the socket part 6.

By pressing down on the free end portions 23-23 of the clamps, the bights 2l-2I may be sprung out from behind the ribs 22-22 and the clamps will pivot downwardly, thus permitting the lower I which might either plug the inlet openings to 2 an undesirable extent or ultimately cause a misfit between the casing sections and permit air to i on its inner end for attachment to the interior of the casing wall by brazing, spot welding, or

the equivalent. This outlet conduit is provided i with a shank which is split in one or more places as indicated at l0. Telescopically associated with the conduit 8 is another conduit II, and this conduit is outwardly flanged as at l2 for attachment to an air compressor intake or the intake for some of adjustment for proper attachment to the intake of the device with which the cleaner is associated is reached. When the adjustment has been made satisfactorily, the split portion I 0 of the conduit 8 is clamped tightly around the conduit II by a suitable pipe clamp I 3 or equivalent means, such connection being air-tight, of course. With such an adjustable outlet, the cleaner may be spaced at varying distances away from the intake conduit, and the intake conduit may be at various angles to the cleaner, etc., without neces sitating any additional equipment for such varianc'es in connections. I

The lower casing section 2 is'generally of cup shape and includes a reduced bottom portion l4, housing the deeper part of a licuid sump i5, and a substantially straight side wall portion extending thereabove into contact with the upper casing I section beneath the hood 1. Except for the space for the air inlet opening, the upper margin of the wall part IB is preferably rolled outwardly as indicated at l1 in Figure 3 in substantial conformity to the curvature of the hood 7,,so that an air-tight engagement between these parts may readily be established. Inlet openings l8 for dirty air are provided by removing a portion of the upper margin of the part l6 of the lower casing, as seen clearly in Figure 2, these inlet openings occurring around the longer sides of the lower casing section. In the region of the inlet openings l8l8, the hood 1 is flared outwardly to agreater extent than where this hood contacts the rolled margin I1, so as not to impede the free entrance of a suitable quantity of air. In order to join the two casing sections together, clamps are provided at opposite ends of the casing. Each of these clamps is pivoted to a suitable bracket l 3 on the wall of the lower casing section, and includes a resilient body portion 20 curved in the upper part thereof to provide a bight 2i for ensection to be dropped away from the upper section. It is a simple expedient to push the lower casing section in position and spring the clamps into engagement with the upper casing section to again unite the parts for operation.

and 26 at the top. Within this partition 24 a filter mass 21 is disposed, which substantially fills the interior of the partition and which may i be a mass of crimped wavy wire, vegetable fibre, curled cattle-tail hair, or any other suitable filter medium. At each end of the filter holding par-;

tition 2d, a strip of hardware cloth 28- or the,

equivalent is used to hold the filter mass in position. At the lower end of the filter element, a

yoke 29 is formed which comprises a pair of opposed legs emanating from the turned in margina), portion 25, and extending to a central portion which surrounds a tubular nut til-extending outwardly from the yoke. A similarconstruction is found at the opposite or upper end of the filter element and includes a yoke 3| and a like tubular nut 32 similarly held in place by the yoke. Each yoke 29 and 3i is made as narrow as possible consistent with the central portion thereof circumscribing the tubular nut 30 or 32. The yoke is preferably engaged within a, groove in the nut so that a lock' fit is established preventing the respective nut from turning relative to its yoke.

To hold the filter element in position, a bolt 33 extends through the opening d of the cover portion 3 of the casing. Outside the casing this bolt has a thumb nut 34 or the equivalent firmly afiixed thereto. Inside the casing, the bolt has a pinched or swaged portion 35 which projects outwardly sufliciently to prevent withdrawal of the bolt through the aperture 4. The bolt, as

seen in Figures 2 and 3, is threadedly engagedthe'socket 6, and the upper portion of the par- I tition 22 is also seated within the socket structure.

The lowermost tubular nut 30 will therefore be elevated a short distance above the bottom of the lower casing section, and the sealbetween the filter element and the gasket 36 will, of course, be air tight. The aperture 8 in the cover portion of the casing may be closed intimately around the bolt by the use of a, suitable washer 31.

When the cleaner is ready for use, the upper casing section and filter element may be assembled as seen in Figures 2 and 3, and the lower casing section is provided with cleansing liquid in the sump i5. This cleansing liquid may be oil or any other suitable cleansing medium, and a sufiicient quantity is placed in the sump I5 so that when the lower casing section is joined to the upper by virtue of the clamps 2020, the cleansing liquid will rise to a normal level indicated by the dotted line 38 in Figure 2. Thispassages extend downwardly from the inlet open- 5. ings l8-l8 between th partition 24 of the filter element and the adjacent wall of the lower. casin section. With reference to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that the filter element partition has a long dimension-substantially equal to the casing,

but in the vicinity of the inlet openings l8-i8 the partition 24 is of less'width than the casing to provide the air passageways 39 and 40 on D- posite sides. inlet openings i8 -l8, descends the passages 39 and 40, breaks the seal-off sump liquid by forcing a portion of this liquid into the lower part of the filter mass,21, and then the air passes through the remainder of the filter mass during which time the extremely fine particles of foreign matter are removed from the air as well as any entrained liquid. The air then in clean substantialy dry form enters the chamber 5 and passes through the outlet arrangement into the apparatus with which the cleaner is associated. Dirt removed from the air will collect in the bottom of the liquid sump l5.

When itis desired to service the cleaner, that is, remove the accumulated dirt and replace the cleansing liquid, if necessary, it is a simple expedient to release the clamps 20-20 and drop off the lower casing section 2. This cup-like casing section may then be easily and thoroughly cleaned.

It will be especially noted that in order to re- 'move the accumulated dirt and replenish. the

' may remain fixed to the intake of the apparatus with which the air cleaner is associated.

If, for any reason, it becomes desirable to re- Verse the filter element, it is a simple expedient merely to turn it over and engage the bolt 33 with the tubular nut 30 rather than with the tubular nut 32,- and the structure will function in identically the same way as. it did in the previous position.

An important feature of the filter element construction is apparent from the disclosure in Fig ures 2 and 3. If, with the air cleaner completely assembled, the filter element should become free from the bolt 33 for some reason or another, the element would drop only until the tubular nut 30 contacted the bottom ofthe lower casing section, a relatively negligible distance. The filter element would then be supported on the bottom of the casing with the intake air passages remaining open, and with the upper portion of the filter element still within the socket construction 6 on the upper casingsection. 'This fit of the filter element in the socket construction is sumclently tight so that only a relatively small amount of incoming air wouldescape around the filter element into the chamber 5. Most of the air would still follow the desired course of travel through the passages 39 and 40 and upwardly through the filter mass, so that even though the filter element was perfectly free from attachment within the cleaner, the cleaner would still operate with a satisfactory efficiency.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a novel liquid bath air cleaner which may be made extremely small and compact for amps Incoming air passes through the air compressor use, which includes that may be reversible, and a filter element that protects the cleaner against cessation of operation in the event the element becomes free from its fastenings, permitting the cleaner to operate .withsatisfactory efilciency even though the filter" element does become entirely loosened. It will also be noted that the cleaner has an adjustable outlet which permits the cleaner to be connected to various forms of fastenings, as well at various angles to the cleaner and-various distances from the cleaner without the use or need of any extra.

parts. In addition, it will be seen that the cleaner is well protected with a hood al1-around,'not only over the air inlet but also over the joint between the casing sections, and that both the filter element and lower casing section may readily be removedfrom the filter, but in addition the lower casing section may be removed and still.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a.

wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore-not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims. a

I claim as my invention: 1.. In an air cleaner, a casing having spaced inlet and outlet openings and shaped to define a liquid sump, a removable filter element'in said casing in the path of air traveling from the inlet to the outlet, means to hold said filter element in position within the casing, and means projecting from said filter elementto limit the'movement of the element in the event the element becomes free, the last said means also being connectable to the first said means with the filter element in inverted position, said filter element being ar-.

to hold the filter element in position in said-casing with either end up. said filter element being equal efiiciency in arranged to function with either position. iii 3. In an air cleaner, a casing having spaced inlet and outlet openings, a r'emovablefilter element in said casing in the path of air traveling from the inlet to the outlet, a tubular nut pro- Jecting from each end of said filter element, and do a bolt extending from the top of the casing for Y engagement with either of said tubular nuts depending upon which end of said filter element is uppermost, said filter element beingarranged to function with equal efilciency in either position.

inlet and outlet open ngs, a removable filter element in said casing in the path of air traveling through the casing, said filter element including an open-ended tubular partition, a filter mass 7 within said partition, a yoke at each end of said partition, a tubular nut held by each yoke, and

a bolt in said casing engageable with either of said tubular nuts, said filter element being arranged to function with' equal efficiency with either nut engaged with said bolt. 1

a filter element eco- 4. In an air cleaner, a casing having spaced' asi es:

5. In an air cleaner, a casing having spaced 1 inlet and outlet openings and shaped to define a I a removable filter element in said ing from the inlet to the outlet, a tubular nut projecting from each end of said filter element,

and a bolt extending from the top of the casing for engagement with either of said tubular nuts depending upon which end of said filter element is uppermost, said liquid sump being at the bot- H tom of said casing and the nut not engaged with said bolt extending into said sump to a point in proximity to the sump bottom. to prevent a 1 dropping of the filter in the event the engaged nut becomes loosened.

' 6; In an air cleaner, a casing having spaced inlet and outlet openings and shaped to define a '1 liquid sump at the bottom thereof, said casing being shaped to provide an interior socket forma- 1 -tion in an upper part, a filter element telescoped in said socket formation inside said casing, holding means to retain said element in position, and

- means projecting from said element into said j sump a distance suflicient to prevent said element dropping out of said socket formation in the event said element becomes released from said holding means. JOSEPH B, SEBOK.

REFERENCES orrsn The following references are of"r ecord in the s file of this patent:

, Unrmn sm'rss; PATENTS- Number Name Date 1,722,689 Taecker July 30, 1929 1,497,367 Fr'ese .i- .-June' 10, 1924 1,881,049 Garner et ale. Oct. 4, 1932 15 1,951,384 Zander Mar. 20, 1934 1,960,260 Acton May 29, 1934 2,304,829 "Kainrath Dec. 15, 1942 2,018,131 Kamrath Oct. 22, 1935 1,747,882 Prazmo Feb. 18, 1930 20 1,426,177 Garner -4. Aug. 15, 1922 j' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 843,294 France Mar. 20, 1939 

